The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.

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I am often asked whether people that are effective leaders in their current organization can lead as effectively in any organization. My response: only a few can – and they are able to do so because they have an intuitive sense about how to lead people, cultivate relationships, be authentic, manage change and navigate the political landscape that exist in every organization as well as their respective industry.

Leadership is a funny thing. You either are a leader or you are not. You either have the ability to inspire and guide others to perform and be successful or you don’t. Leadership can be taught, but leadership is more of an attitude than a set of learned skills. Leaders know when they are leading. They recognize and are aware that others are paying attention and taking note. Great leaders have the intangibles that translate and shine in any environment.

President Reagan was able to take his leadership from Hollywood into the White House. Steve Jobs took his leadership from Apple to Pixar Animation Studios and back to Apple. Phil Jackson took both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers to three-peat championships.

Leadership is always being purposeful and mindful of your actions and how they impact those around you. That is why the selfish know-it-all type leaders fail in environments they can’t control. In fact, the very best leaders are less concerned about controlling others and more concerned about creating the environment that allows those around them to be successful. People love to be led by those that help them mature, develop and prosper.

So what makes these great leaders tick? To get the conversation started, here are seven of the most important areas that you must master:

1. Lead people (don’t treat them like puppets)

Employees (regardless of hierarchy or rank) want to know that their leaders are paying attention to them. People want their leaders to be knowledgeable of what they are truly capable of achieving. Great leaders have an ability to detect great talent. In many cases they are able to unleash the hidden talents in others.

Leaders that treat people like puppets are short-lived leaders. They drive talented people away. And they destroy organizations. Look at the dismal series of recent leaders at Hewlett-Packard for good examples of how to destroy a great organization.

2. Earn relationships (don’t use your power to manipulate others)

Too many leaders use their power to manipulate and purposely create confusion in their organization to maintain control of others. This is artificial leadership and I have witnessed this too many times in my career.

Great leaders take the time to earn relationships. They cultivate them by being responsible for them. This approach injects confidence and builds trust. People in the organization begin to feel that you care about them and are able to view them as peers not subordinates. This is the only successful form of leadership in today’s global marketplace with its instant feedback and 24/7 news cycle.